Tom Ballard Bids Tonightly Farewell: ‘Cherish The ABC, It’s Under Threat’

Tom Ballard Bids Tonightly Farewell: ‘Cherish The ABC, It’s Under Threat’

Tom Ballard has farewelled Tonightly, in a tongue-in-cheek, emotional goodbye.

Equal parts cynical and grateful, Ballard thanked all who had had a hand in creating Tonightly, included everyone at the ABC.

In his final address, Ballard called the broadcaster “incredible” and admitted the show could not have happened on any other channel.

Ballard said: “I want to say a huge thank you to the ABC, we made a few jokes about them tonight but we have a fundamental love of this place and we’re so lucky to have made this show happen at all.

“ABC, I think you’re incredible.”

He added: “It couldn’t have happened anywhere else, maybe SBS but with half the budget of the shit budget we have here.”

Getting teary, Ballard then praised the broadcaster and warned the broadcaster was “under threat” and encouraged viewers to fight for it.

“We have to value the ABC, this place is incredible and it’s under threat.

“But I’m so thankful for the ABC as a viewer and Australian, this place is vital for our culture and country and if you love the ABC please let people know about it, please defend it and cherish it,” he said.

Though, Ballard then commented: “But, a bit of feedback, please do not stop making things like this, risky and subversive and fun and batshit crazy and boundary pushing stuff.”

“Keep taking risks. It’s not happening anywhere else, please keep making shows like this for young people.”

Ballard added: “The truth is, Tonightly was a good TV show, sometimes it made a lot of shit, I’ll take the blame for that.

“But every once in a while I thought we were extraordinary.”

The ABC announced it would be axing Tonightly in mid-August.

Following the announcement, the ABC said in a statement, the show “deliberately pushed boundaries to inform and entertain”.

It added, “Attracting younger audiences requires bold approaches and we continually experiment with new content and new formats particularly on digital platforms.

“We remain committed to exploring and developing projects that connect with different demographics.

“We are proud of the program and its role in supporting some of Australia’s best emerging comedy talent.”




Please login with linkedin to comment

ABC tonightly

Latest News

World Premiere Of Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line To Open Sydney Film Festival 2024
  • Marketing

World Premiere Of Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line To Open Sydney Film Festival 2024

The 71st Sydney Film Festival has announced that it will present the World Premiere of Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line for its Opening Night Gala on Wednesday, June 5, at the State Theatre, followed by a post-screening celebration in the Sydney Town Hall. The Hardest Line tells Midnight Oil’s trailblazing story for the first time […]

Entries Are Now Open For The 2024 Brandies, IntelligenceBank’s Annual Brand Marketing Awards
  • Marketing

Entries Are Now Open For The 2024 Brandies, IntelligenceBank’s Annual Brand Marketing Awards

IntelligenceBank, the platform that empowers global marketing teams to go to market faster, maintain brand integrity across channels and maintain legal compliance, is pleased to announce open entries for the 2024 Brandies. Once again, the Brandies will celebrate the brilliant brand work produced by marketing and brand heroes worldwide. Past winners included marketing teams from […]

The Fred Hollows Foundation Appoints Ardent For PR
  • Advertising

The Fred Hollows Foundation Appoints Ardent For PR

The Fred Hollows Foundation has appointed Ardent, an independent full-service agency, to lead its upcoming public relations campaign, concluding a competitive pitch process. The exciting partnership will see Ardent support The Foundation across earned media relations, ambassador procurement, influencer engagement, and social media amplification for their two major community fundraising events in 2024. With an […]

AI, eCommerce & Marketing Specialists Are In Increased Demand By Businesses, New Data From Fiverr Shows
  • Marketing

AI, eCommerce & Marketing Specialists Are In Increased Demand By Businesses, New Data From Fiverr Shows

Fiverr International Ltd. has released its 2024 Business Trends Index, which is compiled from trending searches for freelance digital services on Fiverr’s platform. Among the millions of searches on the marketplace over the past six months, AI, eCommerce and social media marketing all saw significant increases. The Index shows that businesses are seeking out skilled […]

Perth’s First 3D Anamorphic Billboard Arrives Courtesy Of oOh!media
  • Advertising

Perth’s First 3D Anamorphic Billboard Arrives Courtesy Of oOh!media

oOh!media has launched Perth’s first 3D anamorphic billboard. Located in Yagan Square, the billboard will display ads for local science museum Scitech, created by oOh!’s creative innovation hub POLY. Richard Moore, production and content director, POLY, said: “oOh! continues to invest in adding scalable 3D and 3DA technology to our digital network across Australia. It […]

MasterChef Australia & Crown Resorts Launch Unique Dining Experience With ALUMNI
  • Marketing

MasterChef Australia & Crown Resorts Launch Unique Dining Experience With ALUMNI

Crown Resorts and MasterChef Australia are setting the table to welcome fans and foodies to a new pop-up restaurant and unique dining experience called ALUMNI at Crown Melbourne, the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. ALUMNI will see a rotating cast of MasterChef Australia alumni at a pop-up restaurant for a limited time, […]

Amanda Laing Announces Resignation From Foxtel Group
  • Campaigns

Amanda Laing Announces Resignation From Foxtel Group

The Foxtel Group has announced that Amanda Laing, Foxtel Group chief commercial and content officer and BINGE managing director, has resigned and will be leaving the Group later this year. “Since joining the Foxtel Group in 2018, Amanda has been instrumental to the Foxtel Group’s content strategy and has played a key leadership role in […]

The Lost Letters From Our Diggers: News Corp Unveils ANZAC Day Special
  • Media

The Lost Letters From Our Diggers: News Corp Unveils ANZAC Day Special

After more than 100 years, Australians will hear from the Anzacs of Gallipoli in their own words. Tomorrow, Thursday April 25, in an Anzac Day eight-page special, News Corp Australia’s state and regional mastheads will publish The Lost Letters. Kept safe by the Australian War Memorial, the hand-written letters have been transcribed for this special. […]

Howatson+Company Acquires Akkomplice
  • Advertising

Howatson+Company Acquires Akkomplice

Coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the agency, Akkomplice has joined Howatson+Company. Akkomplice was founded in Melbourne by Kenny Hill in 2014 after leadership roles with JWT, DDB and M&C Saatchi. Since then, the independent creative agency has worked with leading brands, including Kellogg’s, Darrell Lea, Mercedes-Benz, Sirena, Slater & Gordon, Pringles, Choice Hotels, Wesfarmers […]

Google Delays Third-Party Cookie Deprecation Again
  • Technology

Google Delays Third-Party Cookie Deprecation Again

Google has announced that it will be delaying the end of third-party cookies on Chrome potentially into 2025. Google said that there were “ongoing challenges” with the deprecation plans, related to “reconciling divergent feedback from the industry, regulators and developers.” It had been planned to finally kill the cookie in the “second half of Q4” […]

“I’m Still The Same Person That I Was”: Rikki Stern Says “Fucc It” To Cancer Stereotypes
  • B&T Exclusive

“I’m Still The Same Person That I Was”: Rikki Stern Says “Fucc It” To Cancer Stereotypes

Charity organisation Cancer Chicks has launched a powerful new brand platform and campaign, FUCC It, empowering young women living with cancer and gathering support from everyday Australians. “FUCC It”, developed via an integrated partnership between Initiative IMPACT and MBCS, aims to become a cultural catchcry to empower young women not to let cancer, severe chronic […]